Physiology Glossary

noun physical or mental weakness or lack of vitality

• The patient was diagnosed with muscle atony, causing weakness and lack of muscle tone.
• She's been feeling a bit of atony in her muscles lately, so she's trying to exercise more.
• I've been slacking off on my workouts, and now I'm dealing with muscle atony.
• The atony in their relationship was evident as they barely spoke to each other anymore.

noun a decree or command

adjective relating to or characterized by decree or command

• The decretory system is responsible for regulating the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body.
• I think my decretory system is not functioning properly, I always feel dehydrated.
• I need to drink more water to keep my decretory system in check.
• Her decretory decisions as the team leader were always fair and well-thought-out.

verb to discharge waste matter from the body

• Humans excrete waste products through their urinary and digestive systems.
• I need to excrete after drinking so much water.
• I can't hold it anymore, I need to go excrete.
• The artist excretes creativity with every stroke of the brush.

adjective relating to or concerned with the elimination of waste products from the body

• The excretory system is responsible for removing waste products from the body.
• I heard that the excretory system helps us get rid of stuff we don't need.
• My excretory system is working overtime after that big meal.
• His excretory habits are like clockwork, always on schedule.

verb to saturate or fill with a substance, especially blood or another fluid

• The surgeon carefully perfused the organ with the necessary nutrients and oxygen during the transplant procedure.
• The doctor made sure to perfuse the wound with antiseptic before bandaging it up.
• I heard that energy drink can really perfuse you with a lot of caffeine.
• His artistry seemed to perfuse every corner of the gallery, filling it with color and life.

noun a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level

• Hypoxia is a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply.
• If you climb too high in the mountains, you might experience hypoxia due to the lack of oxygen at high altitudes.
• I felt so out of breath at the top of the stairs, it was like I had a bit of hypoxia going on.
• Being in a toxic relationship can feel like emotional hypoxia, draining you of the love and support you need.

noun the branch of anatomy dealing with muscles

• The study of muscles and their diseases is known as myology.
• I'm really fascinated by myology, the study of muscles.
• My friend is majoring in myology, she's a muscle fanatic.
• Understanding the intricate workings of myology can help us navigate through complex situations.

noun a brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron

• The action potential is a brief electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron.
• When the action potential fires, it's like a little electric spark in your brain.
• When that action potential goes off, it's like your brain is lit up like a Christmas tree.
• The action potential is like a messenger carrying important information through the neuron pathways.

verb to move or draw a body part, such as a limb, toward the midline of the body

• The physical therapist focused on adducting the patient's leg to improve their range of motion.
• I saw the trainer adducting the athlete's arm during the workout.
• She was adducting like a pro on the dance floor last night.
• His argument was like adducting different pieces of evidence to support his case.

noun a connective tissue covering or investing an organ, vessel, or other structure

• The adventitia is the outermost layer of a blood vessel, providing support and protection.
• I learned in biology class that the adventitia is like the 'skin' of a blood vessel.
• I never realized how important the adventitia is, it's like the 'bodyguard' of blood vessels.
• In life, we all need an adventitia - something or someone to protect and support us from the outside world.